Meaning
To have knowledge or information concerning a particular subject.
Cultural Background
In France, being 'renseigné' is a mark of intellectual respectability. During dinner parties, it is common to discuss complex social issues, and being 'mal renseigné' can lead to a loss of face in a debate. In Quebec, while 'être renseigné' is used, you might also hear 'être au courant' more frequently in semi-formal settings. There is also a slight influence from English 'informed', but the French structure remains dominant. In Francophone West Africa, formal French is often used with great precision in administrative contexts. 'Être renseigné' is frequently used in official letters and government communications. Belgian French uses 'être renseigné' similarly to France, but in some regions, 'savoir' is used where a French person would strictly use 'être au courant' or 'être renseigné'.
Use Adverbs
Always pair this with adverbs like 'bien', 'mal', or 'peu' to sound more like a native speaker.
Agreement Matters
In written French, forgetting the 'e' or 's' for feminine/plural subjects is a very noticeable error at the C1 level.
Meaning
To have knowledge or information concerning a particular subject.
Use Adverbs
Always pair this with adverbs like 'bien', 'mal', or 'peu' to sound more like a native speaker.
Agreement Matters
In written French, forgetting the 'e' or 's' for feminine/plural subjects is a very noticeable error at the C1 level.
The 'Expert' Vibe
Use this phrase when you want to sound authoritative. It's the language of experts and professionals.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'être renseigné sur'.
Ma collègue (f) est très bien ________ les nouveaux tarifs.
The subject is 'Ma collègue' (feminine singular), so we need 'renseignée'. The preposition must be 'sur'.
Which sentence is the most appropriate for a formal job interview?
How would you tell an employer you researched their company?
'Bien renseigné sur' is professional and accurate. 'Au jus' is slang, and 'connaître votre nom' is too basic.
Match the phrase to the most likely speaker.
Who would say: 'Nul n'est censé ignorer la loi, vous devriez être mieux renseigné sur vos obligations.'
The formal tone and the reference to legal obligations point to a judge or legal authority.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Est-ce que tu sais comment fonctionne ce logiciel ? B: Pas vraiment, je ne suis pas encore ________.
Assuming the speaker is masculine or using the default masculine form for a general statement.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Levels of Knowing
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMa collègue (f) est très bien ________ les nouveaux tarifs.
The subject is 'Ma collègue' (feminine singular), so we need 'renseignée'. The preposition must be 'sur'.
How would you tell an employer you researched their company?
'Bien renseigné sur' is professional and accurate. 'Au jus' is slang, and 'connaître votre nom' is too basic.
Who would say: 'Nul n'est censé ignorer la loi, vous devriez être mieux renseigné sur vos obligations.'
The formal tone and the reference to legal obligations point to a judge or legal authority.
A: Est-ce que tu sais comment fonctionne ce logiciel ? B: Pas vraiment, je ne suis pas encore ________.
Assuming the speaker is masculine or using the default masculine form for a general statement.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, that is a common mistake. Always use 'sur'.
'Être au courant' is more casual and means 'to be aware'. 'Être renseigné' implies you have more detailed information.
Yes, 'être renseigné sur quelqu'un' means you have information about that person, often implying an investigation.
Technically, it is a state, but it looks like a passive construction. It's very common.
You can say 'Je ne suis pas suffisamment renseigné sur ce point pour vous répondre.'
Yes, it is neutral to formal. It is perfect for business emails.
The opposite is 'être mal renseigné' or 'ignorer'.
Yes, 'être renseigné sur l'actualité' is very common.
Often, yes. It implies you didn't just hear it by chance.
Yes: 'J'ai été renseigné sur...'
Related Phrases
se renseigner sur
builds onTo look for information about something.
être au courant de
synonymTo be aware of something.
être au fait de
similarTo be up to date/fully aware of a situation.
être calé sur
specialized formTo be very knowledgeable/an expert on a topic.
tenir quelqu'un renseigné
similarTo keep someone informed.
